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Holy Trinity Catholic Church
15 ROUTE 37 CENTER · SHERMAN · CONNECTICUT · 06784
VISIT US AT: WWW.HTRCCSHERMAN.ORG
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT—We are Holy Trinity Catholic community of faith. We are a diverse
and welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ. We are energized and empowered by Christ’s love,
forgiveness and healing. We strive to experience and make Him known to others through joyful worship,
heartfelt prayer, formative education, life giving service and supportive fellowship.
REV. RICHARD J. GEMZA
PASTOR
frgemza@htrccsherman.org
KIM SANTORO
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
ksantoro@htrccsherman.org
MICHELE CURNAN
DIRECTOR OF FAITH
FORMATION
mcurnan@htrccsherman.org
ROB BRERETON
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
rbrereton@htrccsherman.org
WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday vigil 5:00pm, Sunday 8:30am and 11:00am
WEEKDAY MASS: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, Friday 8:00am
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 4:15pm or by appointment
BAPTISMS AND WEDDINGS: Contact the Parish Office
PARISH OFFICE PHONE: 860.354.1414
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PHONE: 860.355.1483
WEBSITE: htrccsherman.org
E-MAIL ADDRESS: parishoffice@htrccsherman.org
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10:00am-2:00pm Closed Wednesday
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
PASTOR’S CORNER
SHERMAN, CONNECTICUT
Dear Parishioners:
This weekend, just a few lines to let you know that I have
reconstituted the Parish Council which, until recently, had gone
defunct. As you may know, the Parish Council serves in an
advisory capacity to the Pastor and most members serve a three
year term. Meetings will take place roughly quarterly and our first
meeting will take place after Easter.
The new Parish Council consists of:
Janice Jordan, Trustee
Doug Kastilahn, Chairman & Trustee
Sean McGrath
Tracie Pakrad
Mike Pellitier
Kim Santoro
Please join me in thanking them for their willingness to serve.
As we get closer to Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week,
let me encourage you to continue all your Lenten intentions and
sacrifices. If you have perhaps lost a little commitment along the
way, for whatever reason, it isn't too late to renew and reset for a
strong finish to Lent.
God bless you,
Fr. Gemza
We regret to announce that Virginia Murphy, the mother
of Fr. Paul Murphy (4th Pastor of Holy Trinity), has been
called to her rest. Please remember Mrs. Murphy and
Fr. Paul in your prayers. Condolences may be sent to:
Fr. Paul Murphy
St. Thomas More Church
374 Middlesex Road
Darien, CT 06820
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
Amos Munch, Joseph Tamberelli, Caitlin Pallas,
Jack Lago, Theresa Pepe, Bette Broderick,
Jackie Crawford, Nancy Grenier, Michael Norel,
Heidi Cox, Mike Berger, Doris McAuliffe,
Joyce & Bob Kenney, Jane Smith, Patricia Boyle,
Patricia Repko, Ardis Faranda, Glenn Hawley,
Stephen and Joan Roll & Paula DeSimone
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
The men and women in the Armed Forces and
all who protect us. Especially, Corey Celik,
Mark Francis Erhardt, Megan Meenan, and
Katie Hogan. May they be shielded from danger;
and for their families and loved ones.
2015 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
As the largest private social services agency in Fairfield
County, Catholic Charities has been promoting its fundamental
mission of caring, compassion, and service to those less
fortunate for more than 95 years. Last year, Appeal funds made
it possible for this agency to serve more than 1.3 million
nutritious meals to needy and vulnerable persons throughout
Fairfield County, provided disaster recovery assistance to
hundreds of families still suffering from Superstorm Sandy,
conduct 15, 000 counseling sessions through their Behavioral
Health Clinics, expanded “school readiness services” to 123
children from 46 working poor families through the “Room to
Grow” Program, and provided supportive housing services to
about 300 individuals. In so many ways, your gift to the 2015
Annual Catholic Appeal will truly help us to help others and
enhance human dignity.
Holy Trinity Offertory
March 14-15, 2015
Saturday, 5:00pm Mass (96) ........................................ $1,135.00
Sunday, 8:30am Mass (91) .............................................. $926.00
Sunday, 11:00am Mass (126) ....................................... $1,263.00
Last weekend, a total of 50 Parish family envelopes were used
and 24 loose checks were collected. $277.00 was collected
in loose cash. Offertory mailed into the parish office totaled
$170.00 313 people attended Mass.
Thank you for your continued support!
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
MARCH 22, 2015
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday March 28
Stations of the Cross - Fridays during Lent
7:00pm in the Church
No Stations on April 3rd (Good Friday)
Holy Thursday
at 4PM
April 2nd
Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00pm
Good Friday April 3rd
Commemoration of the Passion at 3:00pm
No Stations of the Cross
Confessions
Saturdays During Lent at 4:15pm
No Confessions on Holy Saturday (April 4th)
Tuesdays During Lent 7:00pm to 8:00pm
All Confessions heard in the church confessional
Fasting & Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast
and abstinence from meat. All Fridays during Lent
are days of abstinence from meat. All those between the
ages of 18 and 59, inclusive are bound by the fast unless a
medical condition indicates otherwise. Any medication is
to be taken as prescribed; water and medication do not
break the fast. The days of fasting allow one full meal for
the day, but one may have two additional very light meals
if needed, providing those two meals together do
not make a full meal. All those age 14 and over are
bound by abstinence on the appointed days unless a
medical condition indicates otherwise.
Donations are needed of individually
wrapped candy. Please drop off candy
in the vestibule by Wednesday 3/25.
Thank you.
Coming soon to Holy Trinity: "A Journey to the Potter's
House" on April 17th in the Parish Hall. Further information to come. You can also visit the website: http://
www.ajourneytothepottershouse.com/
“Pope Francis and the Promise of Family”
Dr. Scott Hahn, his wife Kimberly and Dr. Alan Hunt will offer inspiration, encouragement and creative solutions to the challenges of married life and parenting as envisioned by Pope Francis, on Saturday April
18th at All Saints’ School in Norwalk.
Event is from 830am to 5pm. For more information check poster in
vestibule.
Defending Our Religious Liberty
This Week’s Classes
Grades 1-4 Sunday March 22 9:45-10:45am
Grades K-4 Monday March 23 3:15-4:35pm
Next Week’s Classes
Grades 1-4 Sunday March 29 9:45-10:45am
Grades K-4 Monday March 30 3:15-4:35pm
Recently the state of California started forcing all health insurers in
the state to include elective abortions in the health plans they sell.
Other states will be putting the pressure on their health insurers, as
well. This problem is addressed by the Health Care Conscience
Rights Act (H.R 940). This measure adds a long-overdue
conscience clause to the Affordable Care Act, and strengthens the
Weldon amendment that forbids governmental bodies receiving
federal Health and Human Services funds from discriminating
against those who decline to take part in abortion or abortion
coverage. Please support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act.
(H.R. 940) by writing to your congressman or woman.
If you haven’t done so already, please voice your opposition to the
federal health care mandate by calling U.S. Secretary of Health
and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445.
Let them know that the mandate is in violation of our First
Amendment right to religious freedom.
5TH SUNDAY IN LENT
TEXT REFLECTION
"Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also
will my servant be." In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks about death.
He gives the analogy of the grain of wheat that must fall to the
ground and die in order to produce much fruit. Later, he speaks
about how he will be "lifted up from the earth," making reference
to his crucifixion. He says that the fruit of this will be that he will
"draw everyone" to himself.
Jesus is telling us that death yields a greater good, that it produces
fruit. So, when he insists that we must follow him, we can take
courage. Yes, following Jesus means accompanying him all the way
to the cross. It means that we too are called to carry our own
cross and die to ourselves: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and
whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."
But this death leads to a greater kind of life. When we stay
connected to Jesus through thick and thin, we receive eternal life in
the end! Jesus says, "The Father will honor whoever serves me."
The season of Lent is designed not only to help us reflect a bit
more deeply on the sufferings and death of Christ, but also to
prepare us for the glory that follows. The joy of Easter and the
triumph of the Resurrection are all the more powerful precisely
because they emerge out of the darkest, most "hopeless" of
situations. When we cling to Jesus even through these kinds of
circumstances in our own lives--whether they be sickness,
unemployment, conflict, or disappointment--we are those servants
that Jesus spoke of, the ones who go where Jesus goes, even when
the going gets tough. But let us
remember, as we march through Lent,
that this journey will bear much fruit.
©2012 Liturgical Publications Inc
FAITH AND YOUR FAMILY
BEATITUDES FOR PARENTS
Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they
are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged
personalities. Blessed are the teachable. For knowledge brings
understanding, and understanding brings love. Blessed are the men
and women who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give
love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their
children, and – in an ever-widening circle – to their fellow men.
Saturday, March 21
5:00pm Pasquale Crocco r/b Richard & Dolores Brush
Sunday, March 22
5th Sunday of Lent
8:30am Intentions for Holy Trinity parishioners
11:00am Bruno Ragosta r/b the Hatcher Family
Monday, March 23
8:00am Matthew M. Gillotti r/b Aunt Karen
Tuesday, March 24
8:00am Intentions for the sick of the parish
Wednesday, March 25
No Mass
Thursday, March 26
8:00am Paula Fischer-Gillotti r/b Karen Fischer-Perkins
Friday, March 27
8:00am All Souls
Saturday, March 28
5:00pm John Buscemi r/b Barbara & Ben Palagonia
Sunday, March 29
Palm Sunday
8:30am Intentions for Holy Trinity parishioners
11:00am Brian Monaghan r/b the Hatcher Family
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
OF MARCH 22, 2015
Sunday:
Monday:
Jer 31:31-34/Heb 5:7-9/Jn 12:20-33
Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62/
Jn 8:1-11
Tuesday:
Nm 21:4-9/Jn 8:21-30
Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38
Thursday:
Gn 17:3-9/Jn 8:51-59
Friday:
Jer 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42
Saturday:
Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56
Next Sunday: Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:611/Mk 14:1--15:47 or 15:1-39